Army chief reviews security, visits Rajouri sector on LoC

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 30: Amid the spurt in ceasefire violations by Pakistan, Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat today reviewed the operational preparedness of the force here and the prevailing security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, a Defence spokesperson said.
The Army chief also visited forward posts along the LoC and interacted with soldiers in Rajouri sector, where an Army Major and three jawans were killed by Pakistani troops on December 23, he said.
“The Chief of Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat, accompanied by the Northern Army Commander Lt Gen D Anbu visited (Jammu-based) White Knight Corps to review the operation preparedness and the prevailing security situation,” the spokesman said.
The Army chief was briefed by General Officer Commanding, White Knight Corps, Lt Gen Saranjeet Singh, about preparedness in dealing with the emerging and dynamically changing security situation and the measures taken to thwart “misadventures by the inimical forces”, he said.
The spokesman said the Army chief visited Rajouri Sector, where he was briefed on operational readiness by the General Officer Comma-nding, Ace of Spades division.
The Army chief, while complimenting the formations for their unflinching efforts, reiterated the continuous need to remain prepared in order to counter nefarious designs of the enemy, the spokesman said.
Gen Rawat’s visit to Rajouri sector on the Line of Control (LoC) assumed significance as it was in Keri sector of this district that four Army soldiers including a Major were martyred in ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops.
However, Indian Army had later eliminated five Pakistani troops including an officer and two sniper shooters opposite Poonch and Nowshera sectors and inflicted heavy damage on their posts.
In the evening, the Army chief visited holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji in Trikuta Hills of Reasi district and paid obeisance to Goddess Vaishno Devi.
He returned to Katra tonight and would have night halt at one of the Army formations.
Gen Rawat would fly back to New Delhi tomorrow morning.